Collapsible garment hangers



March 26, 1963 C. SADOWSKY COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT HANGERS TOR orf/5y.

m A11-ORN EYS Filed Feb. 28, 1961 United States -Fatent 3,082,92l Patented Mar. 26, 1963 Aice 3,082,921 COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT HANGERS Charles Sadewsky, 372 Great Neck Road,

Great Neck, N.Y. Filed Feb. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 92,211 3 Claims. (Ci. 223-94) This invention relates generally to garment hangers, and is especially concerned with a new and improved collapsible garment hanger.

As is well-known, considerable difficulty is experienced in the insertion and removal of garment hangers from garments, as -through the neck of a ladys dress, in addition to frequent damage to the garment resulting from insertion and removal of a hanger.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a garment hanger which overcomes the abovementioned difficulties, being quickly and easily collapsible for engagement in and removal from a garment, such as a ladys dress, with a minimum of difficulty, and without damage to the garment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible garment hanger having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph which is extremely simple in construction, staunch and durable in use, being positively locked in its extended or set-up condition to prevent the falling of a hung garment, and which is capable of economical mass production for distribution and sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following speciiication and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational View showing a garment hanger of the instant invention, being illustrated in solid lines in its extended condition of ilse, and in dot-and-dash outline swung out of its extended condition;

FIGURE 2 is atop view of the hanger of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial top view showing the hanger of FIGURE 1 swung toward its collapsed condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the hanger of the instant invention is there generally designated 10, and includes a pair of laterally outstanding members or arms 11 and 12, which have their inner regions 13 and 14, respectively, in vertically facing or overlapping engagement, see FIGURE 3. A pivot 15, such as a tubular rivet may extend horizontally through the overlapping inner end regions 13 and 14 of the arms 11 and 12 to pivotally connect the arms together, A washer or spacer 16 may be circumposed about one end of the rivet 15 to facilitate pivotal or relative swingingV movement of the arms 11 and 12.

Upstanding from respective inner end regions 13 and 1 4 of the arms 11 and 12 are a pair of downwardly opening hook elements 18 and 19. In the extended solidline condition of FIGURE l, the hook elements 18 and 19 are located in vertically facing engagement and coincident with each other, so that the hook element 19 is obscured behind the hook element 18. However, at the upper ends of the hook elements 18 and 19' are carried respective abutment elements 2t) and 21 for limiting abutting engagement with each other, as will appear presently. In their upstanding, coincident relation, the hook elements 18 and 19 combine to denne an upstanding, downwardly opening, hook-shaped suspension member, generally designated 23.

The outstanding arms 11 and 12 are disposed substantially coplanar in a' generally vertical plane. More specilically, the arm 11 includes a laterally outstanding web 25 disposed in a igenerally vertical plane, the web 25 having its inner region 13 offset vertically upward, as by the upwardly offsetting portion 26, and having its outer region 27 curving obliquely downward. Along the upper edge of the vertical web 25 is formed a relatively thick bead or flange 28 which extends in arcuate form, as at 29, about the outer end of web 25 and terminates at 30, on the underside of the web proximate to its outer end. 'Ille relatively thick or heavy upper edge flange or bead 28 overhangs both sides of the web 25 and extends inward and upward along the upper edge of offsetting web portion 26, where it terminates at 31 on the rear or inner side of the inner end region 13, but continues on the outer or forward side thereof terminating in a generally semicircular bead portion 34- along the innermost edge of the inner end region 13. A lower edge flange or bead 32, of considerably less thickness or width extends along the lower edge of web 25, overhanging both sides thereof, and terminates on the forward or outer side at the end portions 30 and 34 of the upper edge bead 28. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the inner or rear surface of the web 25, at the inner end region 13 is recessed, and substantially entirely llat, as at 33, the lower bead 32 terminating on the rear or inner side at 45 just short of the recess 33.

The outstanding arm 12 is similar to the arm 111, including a laterally outstanding, vertically disposed web 35 having its inner end region 14 vertically offset by an offsetting portion 36, and having its outer end region 37 curving obliquely downward.

A relatively wide upper edge bead orl flange 38 extends along the upper edge of web 35, overhanging forwardly and rearwardly thereof, extending outward toan arcuate portion 39 about the outer end of web 35 and terminating at 4a on the underside of the latter web adjacent to the outer end thereof. The relatively heavy upper edge bead 38 continues inward along the upper edge of oifsetting web portion 35 and terminates just inward of the latter portion on the inner or forward side of the web 35. 0n the rearward or outer side of the inner end region 14, see FIGURES 3 and 4, the upper edge bead or `flange 38 continues to an arcuate end 44 in the manner of arcuate end 34 on the forward side.

Extending along the lower edge of web 35, from the bead end 44 to the beadl end 4t) is a lower edge flange or bead 42. On the forward or inner side of the web 35, the lower edge bead 42 continues from the bead end 4t? inward to and terminates at a point 43 just inward of the offsetting web portion 36 and substantially directly below the upper bead termination 41.

As with the recessed inner end region surface 33, the inner end. region 14 has its forward or inner surface 46 recessed and substantially flat for facing vertical engagement with the surface 33. The pivot means 15, 16 is located generally centrally of the facing engaging surfaces 33 and 46 and connects the arms 11, 12 for swinging downi'ard movement toward each' other from their illustrated, solid-line outstanding condition.

The hook element 1S is substantially at in a Vertical plane and provided on its forward or outer side with a bead 5t) extending substantially entirely about the periphery of the hook element and terminating at the inner end region 13 of the arm 11. Further, the inner or rearward surface S1 of the forward hook element 1%5 is substantiaiiy hat and coplanar with the flat inner or rearward recessed surface 33 of arm region 13.

Similarly, the hook element 19, which in its opstanding relation is congruent and coincident with the hook element 18, is provided on its rear or outer side with a bead 52 extending substantially peripherally about the hook. element 19 and terminating at the juncture of the hook element with the inner end region 14 of arm 12. The inner or forward surface 53 of the hook element 19 is substantially flat and coplanar with the inner or forward recessed surface i6 of the inner arm end region 14. rl`he surfaces 33 and 46 of the inner arm end regions 13 and 14 are recessed an amount such that in their facing engagement, the total or combined maximum horizontal 4thickness of the facing inner end regions is approximately equal to the horizontal thickness of each upper end flange or bead 23 and'SS. Further, the anges or beads 2S and 38 are each of a substantially constant horizontal thickness outward from the respective terminations 31 and 41. Also, the horizontal thickness of flange 2S is substantially equal to that of flange 38, which dimension is the maximum horizontal thickness of its respective arm.

Extending from the upper region of hook` element 18 is the abutment element 20. The abutment element 20 extends rearward over the adjacent upper region of rear hook element 19, as at SS, and is formed lwith an abutting surface 56 disposed in a generally vertical plane and extending oblique to the plane of facing hook-element surfaces 51 and 53. Similarly, the rear hook element 19 is provided on an upper region with the abutment element or lug 21 which extends forward, as at 57, over the adjacent upper region of hook element 1S, One surface 58 of the abutment element 21 is disposed generally verticaliy and oblique to the facing surfaces 51 and 53 of the hook elements.

The surface 58 of the lug 2i! is remote from the free end of the hook element 18, and the surface 5S of the lug 21 is proximate to the free end of the hook element 19. Further, the lug 2) is formed with an oblique surface 56a, generally parallel to the surface 56, which is proximate to the free end of the hook element 18, while the lug 21 is formed with an oblique surface 58a, substantially parallel to the surface 58, which is remote from the free end of the hook element 19,

In swinging the arms 11 and 12 upward toward each other, from the collapsed phantom condition of FEGURE 1 to the solid-line condition thereof, it wiil be observed, see FIGURE 5, that the hook elements 18 and 19 swing toward each other into overlapping relation with their surfaces S1 and 53 in facing engagement. Further, the oblique surfaces 55a and 58a engage with and ride upon i each other, providing a camming action effecting resilient deiiection of the hook elements 18 and 19 away from each other suicient to permit the lugs 2t? and 21 to pass. At the moment when the lugs 2G and 21 pass each other, the hook elements 18 and 19 are slightly beyond their congruent solid-line condition of FIGURE 1, and may resiliently return to facing engagement. Also, the hook elements 18 and 19 may return to congruent or coincident relation.

Further, as best seen in FIGURE 2, with the hook elements 13 and 19 in their coincident, suspension-meinberdeiining condition, the oblique abutment surfaces 56 and 58 are in facing engagement with each other. In the solid-line position of FIGURES l and 2, abutting engageose,

ment of the abutment-element surfaces 56 and 58 serve to stop or limit downward swinging movement of the arms 11 and 12. More specifically, the abutting-element surface 56 faces obliquely forward or toward the side of its carrying hook element 1S and obliquely toward the direction of hook-element movement into the extended condition of hanger use. Similarly, the surface 58 of abutment element 21 extends obliquely rearward or toward the side of itscarrying hook element 19, and also obliquely toward the direction of movement in the extending operation. When the arms 11 and 12 are fully set up or extended and the hook elements 18 and 19 in their coincident relation, the abutment surfaces 56 and 58 engage each other to limit further swinging movement of the arms. By this construction, downward swinging movement of the arms 11 and 12 beyond that of its fully extended condition is positively prevented, so that garments will not inadvertently fall from the hanger. Also, the forward facing obliqueness of surface 56 on forwardly carried abutment element 55 tends to urge the rear hook element 19 forward, which action is also effected by the rearward facing obiiqueness of surface 58 on the rearwardly carried abutment element 57, so that the hook elements are constantly maintained in relatively staunch facing engagement with each other under the weight of a garment.

However, if it is desired to swing the arms 11 and 12 to their collapsed, dot-and-dash-outline position from the extended, solid-line position, it is only necessary to move the arms slightiy upward toward each other suilicient to permit resilient deiiection of the hook elements 18 and 19 out of their facing engagement. With the hook elements 18 and 19 deflected away from each other suflicient to permit the lugs 29 and 21 to pass each other, the arms 11 and 12 may be swung downward toward each other, thereby serving to swing the hook elements 18 and 19 away from each other, to assume the collapsed, phantom condition of FiGURE 1.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible garment hanger comprising a pair of laterally outstanding arms having their inner end regions in vertically facing relation, horizontal pivot means connecting the facing inner end regions of said arms for Iswinging movement of the distal arm ends upward away from each other and downward toward each other, a pair of hook elements upstanding respectively from the inner end regions of said arms and configured to be in vertical facing releasably engaging relation and combining to deiine a suspension member when said arms extend laterally outward, said hook elements each being of downwardly opening configuration and substantially congruent to each other and relatively oriented so that they are in coincidence and registration in their upstanding relation, said hook elements being swingable out of their suspension-rnemberdetining relation when said arms are swung downward toward each other, and abutment elements carried on said hook elements and releasably engageable with each other upon upward swinging movement of said arms to their laterally outstanding condition to limit said downward swinging arm movement, whereby said arms are adapted to support the weight of a garment with said suspension member engaged over a supporting rod.

2. A collapsible garment hanger according to claim l, said abutment elements including respective releasably engaging surfaces each facing obliquely away from the direction of hook-element movement upon movement of said arms toward each other, said abutment elements each extending out of the plane of its respective hook elements aCrOSS the plane of the other hOOk Clement OT other and effect resilient ideection of `said hook elements abutting feleasabe engagement Wh @ach Othelaway from each other out of said facing relationship.

3. A collapsible garment hanger accoiding to claim 1, said hook elements being resiliently detlectabie away from References Cited in the le of this patent each other for movement out of said facing reiation 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS sucient to permit said abutment elements to pass each other upon downward movement of said arms toward 912 047 Thomas Feb 9 1909 each other, said abutment elements being provided with 1 097889 Sommer 'm May'26 1914 cam surfaces engageable with each other upon upward 2440637 Lowe Apr 27 1948 movement of said arms toward their extended condition, 10 2582669 Battle Jan" 15 195'2 said cam surfaces causing said lugs to ride over each 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE GARMENT HANGER COMPRISING A PAIR OF LATERALLY OUTSTANDING ARMS HAVING THEIR INNER END REGIONS IN VERTICALLY FACING RELATION, HORIZONTAL PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING THE FACING INNER END REGIONS OF SAID ARMS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE DISTAL ARM ENDS UPWARD AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND DOWNWARD TOWARD EACH OTHER, A PAIR OF HOOK ELEMENTS UPSTANDING RESPECTIVELY FROM THE INNER END REGIONS OF SAID ARMS AND CONFIGURED TO BE IN VERTICAL FACING RELEASABLY ENGAGING RELATION AND COMBINING TO DEFINE A SUSPENSION MEMBER WHEN SAID ARMS EXTEND LATERALLY OUTWARD, SAID HOOK ELEMENTS EACH BEING OF DOWNWARDLY OPENING CONFIGURATION AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONGRUENT TO EACH OTHER AND RELATIVELY ORIENTED SO THAT THEY ARE IN COINCIDENCE AND REGISTRATION IN THEIR UPSTANDING RELATION, SAID HOOK ELEMENTS BEING SWINGABLE OUT OF THEIR SUSPENSION-MEMBER-DEFINING RELATION WHEN SAID ARMS ARE SWUNG DOWNWARD TOWARD EACH OTHER, AND ABUTMENT ELEMENTS CARRIED ON SAID HOOK ELEMENTS AND RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER UPON UPWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID ARMS TO THEIR LATERALLY OUTSTANDING CONDITION TO LIMIT SAID DOWNWARD SWINGING ARM MOVEMENT, WHEREBY SAID ARMS ARE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF A GARMENT WITH SAID SUSPENSION MEMBER ENGAGED OVER A SUPPORTING ROD. 